Emerging Adults: A Closer Look

Airing on
Probe Radio

Jan.
16-20

Steve Cable — "Emerging adults" is a term coined by sociologists to capture the new reality of 18- to 30-year-old Americans who have not fully assumed the responsibilities of classic adulthood.  In previous articles, we looked at disturbing information on the beliefs of emerging adults in America from surveys by Christian Smith of Notre Dame, by Probe Ministries, and by others.  In them, we found clear evidence of accelerating erosion in accepting and adhering to basic biblical truths for living, even among those who were born again.  Our emerging cultural milieu of pop post-modernism is clearly taking many young adult Christians captive to the "philosophies of men" (Col. 2:8). Here we will take a closer look at the erosion of belief in several important areas.

Christian Smith and his fellow researchers at Notre Dame published an initial book, Souls in Transition, covering the results of their 2008 survey of the religious beliefs and actions of emerging adults from age 18 through 23.  We discussed their findings in two earlier articles: Emerging Adults and the Future of Faith in America, and Emerging Adults Part 2: Distinctly Different Faiths.  Their deep distress over some of the results of their surveys and interviews led them to publish a follow-up book in 2011 entitled Lost in Transition: The Dark Side of Emerging Adulthood.  In this book, they focus on five specific areas of concern identified by their earlier research:

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MEET THE AUTHOR
Steve CableSTEVE CABLE

"Researcher Christian Smith is very concerned about trends he has uncovered among our young adults including moral aimlessness, materialistic consumerism and trouble from sexually liberated living. As I outline these concerns, you will be too."

Steve is Senior Vice President with Probe. Prior to joining us, Steve spent over 25 years in the telecommunications industry. He has extensive, practical experience applying a Christian worldview to the dynamic, competitive high-tech world that is rapidly becoming a dominant aspect of our society.

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Related Articles:

Steve CableEmerging Adults and the Future of Faith in America
Steve unpacks some of the findings and implications of Christian Smith's longitudinal National Study of Youth and Religion. Though 18- to 23-year-olds see religion as only marginally important at best, a minority of personally devoted youth see real change.

Steve CableEmerging Adults Part 2: Distinctly Different Faiths
Steve offers evidence that 18-to 23-year-olds have a grave disconnect between religious and cultural beliefs and practices.

Steve CableThe Importance of Parents in the Faith of Emerging Adults: The State of Born Again Emerging Adults
Steve explores the results of Probe's survey of 18- to 40-year-old born agains, focusing on the role of parents in their faith.